TRAINING
I offer bespoke training to meet the requirements of the organisation. I draw on my experience as a teacher and group therapy facilitator to create a safe and confidential environment where sensitive topics and experiences can be explored. I encourage learners to engage and participate in sharing their professional and personal experiences of mental health and mental illness. I also provide interactive teaching methods as well as videos and animations.
Here are some of the topics that I can deliver:
• An introduction to the basic concepts of mental health and mental illness.
• An overview of the causes and underlying factors which lead to positive or negative mental health. These are explained by using the biopsychosocial model of mental health, a holistic approach which provides an in depth view and analysis of mental health and wellbeing.
• An introduction to stress, anxiety and depression which are the most commonly diagnosed mental health problems in the UK.
• An introduction to other common mental health conditions such as:
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar Disorder
• Postnatal Depression
• Phobias
• Dementia
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Eating Disorders
Included in all these topics are ways to deal with this conditions, as well as tactics to improve communication and interactions with those experiencing mental health problems. On this, I can draw on my extensive experience of working in the field of mental health and addiction, as well as being on the other end, as a patient/client/service user.
I can also provide a workshop on the 5 Ways to Wellbeing. These are a set of evidence based actions, developed by the New Economics Foundation, which promote people’s wellbeing. Please visit: www.fivewaystowellbeing.org for more info. This latter element is very useful as it helps to develop ways of looking after our own mental health, something which is of great importance to police officers as a recent BBC investigation revealed that “cases of UK police officers and staff taking long-term sick leave for psychological reasons have risen by 35% over the last five years”.
The above topics can be tailored to the needs and requirements of your organisation and, if you require something which is not outlined above, please let me know as I would be more than happy to prepare it for you.
FEEDBACK
Please read the following feedback from previous participants in my workshop at Avon and Somerset Constabulary:
“I found your story and presentation excellent and the whole session was well designed and thought provoking. I’ve used information already in my sessions and am thinking about managing my wellbeing and that of our delegates as we go through some challenging times.”
“Many thanks for the input last week. I found it particularly interesting and feel better equipped both personally and professionally to look after my own health and wellbeing as well as that of my students.
I really enjoyed listening to your story, traumatic as it was, which is a lesson to us all that no matter how low you are feeling or how bad things get everyone is capable of turning it around. The 5 steps to wellbeing are simple yet require some dedication to achieve and I aim to do more of them in my life.”
“I was very impressed with how you opened the session by levelling the playing field and openly talking about your own problems. It was an honest and moving account and totally engaging and most importantly made people feel safe in talking about their own issues and experiences.
The rest of the session was a great mix of proactive involvement, listening, and discussion and we all bonded very well as an audience. Even though we all know each other we don’t always see each other.”
“Thank you so much for your input yesterday. I have been a Police Officer since 1992 and have been to many sessions on mental health issues. Yours was by far the most engaging and interesting.
You should know that when we returned to the office yesterday both my supervisor and I told the rest of the team about the 5 Ways to Wellbeing. It’s really useful, and so easy. And this morning when we came into work we both said we had told our families!”
“Thank you for a really engaging and informative session. It’s so powerful when you share your journey and I clearly felt a sense of your passion – this job is made for you!”
THE COST
The cost for the training is as follows:
• Half day workshops: £250
• Full day workshop: £450
There is no maximum number of delegates for these workshops, however, I would recommend 20 per session at the most as this makes it easier for attendees to be given more personalised attention and time.
In the cost is included:
• Certificate of attendance to all attendees.
• Extensive resources in electronic format.
• Travel costs.
• Equipment such as projector, screen and speakers if these are required. I can also provide a flip-chart stand, paper and markers if required.